Stencil and stencil-plate



(No Model.) Y.

G. H. CUNNINGHAM. STENCIL ANDITSITENOIL PLATE.

Patehted Aug. 5, 1890.

With M4 64.

UNITED STATES GILBERT H. CUNNINGHAM, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

STENCIL AND STENCIL-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,769, dated. August 5, 1890.

Application filed February 19, 1890. Serial No. 341,074. (No model.)

To aZ Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT H. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the'United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stencils and Stencil-Plates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same. I

My invention relates to improvements in that class of stencils and stencil-plates which are composed of separate and interchangeable letters; and the objects of my improvements are to effect closer joints between the several plates than have been heretofore made and to provide for the proper tension of the whole stencil, so as to secure better results.

My invention consists in providing each plate with a lap on one edge, so that the second plate will partly underlie the first, and so on throughout the series, and, further, in the'application to stencils of a peculiar locking and straining device, which will be fully described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section taken through line LE 00, Fig. 1, with the handle turned down; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the stencil-plates, showing the lap-extension; Fig. 4, a transverse section of the locking and spreading clamp when closed, and Fig. 5 a similar view open.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the views.

The curved handle A, the cross-head B at its base, and the parallel metallic rods C C, screwed or otherwise secured to this crosshead, constitute the frame of the stencil. The letter-plates D are made of sheet metal and cut separately in rectangular pieces of variable width, into which the letters are stamped out, as usual. The ends of these plates are curved up, so as to form loops d, through which they maybe strung on the rods C, as illustrated at Fig. 1. Upon one edge of the several plates D, preferably on the left, are formed laps d, adapted to underlie the opposite edge of the other plates brought in C contiguity thereto.

It is apparent from the above construction that not only can the plates be arranged to form any desired combination of letters, but that they will overlap each other and form practically one continuous plate, made of pieces so well united that the ink will not work through the joints if a sufficient strain be given to the different parts and they be kept closely together. vide the combined lock and tightener shown in detail at Figs. 4c and 5. It is composed of two half-plates E F, respectively, strung by loops d, similar to those of the letter-plates To effect this I proon the rods C C, and hinged together at their inner ends, so as to form a toggle-joint. A latch G, secured to either of the plates E F and fitted to clasp the frame-rod which holds the opposite plate, brings E and F into a straight line and causes them to exercise a constant endwise pressure. The free ends of the framerods C are thus spread apart, and consequently the whole of the letter-plates strung upon them locked into alignment and subjected to a tension sufficient to produce tight joints at the places where they overlap.

Various changes might be resorted to in carrying my improvements into practice without departing from the principle and scope of my invention, and I do not wish, therefore, to confine myself to the exact forms or the precise details of construction herein shown and set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a stencil, the lock and tightener composed of two half-plates having a central toggle-connection and their outer ends formed into eyes, and a latch secured at the point of union of the plates and having its free end formed into a concavity to fit over one of the eyed ends of the plates, substantially as set forth.

2. A stencil comprising parallel rods, a

cross-head at one end thereof, a curved handle secured to said cross-head, separate and overlapping letter-plates strung upon said rods, a toggle-lever strung next to said plates, and a latch to straighten out said lever and therebyloek and strain said stencil, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GILBERT H. CUNNINGHAM.

In presence of-- A. H. STE. MARIE, F. N. BIGELow. 

